Reviews with content warning for Violence - Inheritance

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Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

23 reviews

bisexualwentworth's review against another edition

Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Well, I did it. I finished my reread of the Inheritance Cycle. And I've gotta say, I did not enjoy rereading Inheritance.

When I first read Eragon, I was about eight years old. A paperback copy of Eragon was the first book I ever bought for myself. It was fun and tropey and despite my struggles, even as a child, with the way Paolini wrote women, I continued with the series, reading Eldest and then reading Brisingr right when it came out.

When Inheritance was finally published, I was thirteen years old. I had read a lot of other books. My tastes had expanded. But I was still eager and excited to finish this series that I had enjoyed so much. It was a series that was popular among my friends and my cousins, and books that I can share with the people in my life have always been important to me. Plus, Paolini's dragons are fantastic.

Anyway, I remember reading Inheritance in one day, finishing it past midnight in bed. And I liked it. I remember this book being controversial among fans when it came out, and I remember pushing back against a lot of the criticism. Specifically, people didn't like the ending, and I felt like it made sense for the characters and was also a foregone conclusion. I did not read Inheritance again until this reread of the entire series.

For the entirety of this formulaic, messy, slow, but incredibly entertaining series, Christopher Paolini has followed a very specific structure for each book: violent inciting incident, Eragon goes and does quests and training, big final battle, speedy conclusion. Books two and three spice things up a bit with Roran and Nasuada's (often much more compelling) subplots, but the overall structure is the same. Inheritance strays from this formula, and while as a young teen I found this switchup effective, as an adult, I don't think it's done particularly well. Paolini tries to wrap up far too many things in the aftermath section, and it ends up feeling like a slog. If he had integrated more of those things into earlier parts of the book, the conclusion could have been shorter and would have landed a lot better.

The elements are here. Unlike many readers, I don't mind the deus ex machina elements of this book. I think they fit with the story overall. I genuinely like the way that Eragon eventually defeats Galbatorix and the roles that other characters like Murtagh and Arya play in the final confrontation. And I still think that Paolini made the right choice with the ending. Overall, there are actually stronger narrative choices here than in much of the rest of the series. Unfortunately, the execution is often quite poor.

The rest of this review will contain spoilers.

Before I get into my many issues with this book, there are some things that I genuinely really like about it even as an adult:

Nasuada's storyline in this book is incredibly harrowing and I hate the way she is treated in-universe, but she is written so inexplicably well and her character arc is so strong and her scenes are the most memorable and well-written in this book. I feel like it is her scenes in the Hall of the Soothsayer where Paolini's love of describing every single thing is finally put to good use in his vivid descriptions of her visions and her overall situation--though I could have done with a shorter description of the jailer's fingernails.
Are Murtagh and Nasuada a problematic ship? Sure. Do I care? No. I was very invested in them when I first read this book, and I still am. Yes Murtagh's character growth happens mostly off-page, and it's kind of wretched that it's so tied to his supposed love for a woman he barely knows, but I can't bring myself to care. I like them. I am excited to read Murtagh's book.
The werecats are fun and I like them.
Eragon singing to Elaine's baby to heal her lip. Of all the magical cures in this series, this is the only acceptable one. Though the misogyny surrounding that scene was vile.
The older dragons being totally lost in abstraction and struggling to communicate with others feels really appropriate. I love the scene where the oldest dragon tries to impress upon Eragon the importance of the starlings' thoughts and lives.
Snalgli!
Saphira doesn't get nearly enough moments in this book, but they are all excellent--when she loses a scale on her nose, when she discovers her true name... I love her. She is still my favorite dragon character ever, and I want more of her (though unfortunately that would also mean more of Eragon and while he is better by the end of this book, I'm not super wanting to spend more time with him).
Roran defeating Barst. I don't like Roran but this fight scene WORKS, especially in the aftermath of Islanzadi's death.

Many parts of this book did not work for me, and it's mostly for one simple reason: lack of development. Paolini sets up a lot of things in previous books that pay off in this one: the Vault of Souls, Angela's prophecy about Eragon leaving Alagaësia, and the true name of the Ancient Language are all set up with some decent foreshadowing--and then ignored in this book until they are suddenly important. This cheapens them and makes them ring kind of hollow even though they are strong conceptually.

On the flip side, Paolini builds up several things in this book to then give them fairly disappointing payoffs. Chief among these is the sword fighting. In book one, Eragon and Murtagh are evenly matched swordsmen. In book two, Eragon gets his magical powers and then can seemingly defeat any opponent because he's just so good with a sword--with the exception of Murtagh and Arya. So when he works so hard in this book to improve his swordfighting skills with Arya and Glaedr, only for Murtagh to still be better than him at the end with no apparent extra work on Murtagh's end (yes Eragon technically wins but Murtagh is still stated to be the better swordsman) when they were EVENLY MATCHED before is frustrating. The scene is good but the overall arc of it is bad.

Good ideas that just need to be developed and integrated a lot better for them to live up to their potential:

Including dwarves and urgals in the dragon rider spell.
The dauthdaert--should have been introduced in book three.
Saphira and Firnen's relationship.
All of the stuff about needing to control magic users was decent but needed more buildup in previous books. And also Nasuada's solution almost makes sense, but I feel like it's missing something. We'll see if the Murtagh book addresses that, so I'm reserving judgment for now.

Arya was always the most likely choice for the green rider, and this makes it really boring when it's her. Imagine if it had been Nasuada. Or Elva. Or that teenage girl with the massive forearms who shows up twice. Or even Katrina. That could have been fun. But no. Most obvious, most boring choice.

And have I mentioned that I HATE Eragon and Arya's relationship? It doesn't quite get fully romantic in this book, but it basically does, and it's awful. And what's so frustrating is that their friendship in book three and this one is actually very normal! If it weren't for Eragon's weird boundary-free lust their dynamic would mostly be fine. But no. We can't have nice things.

Also, torture doesn't work. Galbatorix should know this. Plus he has way more effective interrogation methods. I get it, and like I said those scenes were very effective, but also, the brutalization of Nasuada in this book is a LOT.

I genuinely thought that this book would hold up, especially after rereading Brisingr and enjoying it quite a bit more than I expected, but instead, this is a strangely-paced, overlong book that has a real problem with setup and payoff and development, and considering those are the three main parts of storytelling, it is overall a frustrating read. We shall see if Murtagh is any better.

Ugh.

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abby_can_read's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

📖
This was a brilliant book. I had a fabulous time reading it. There were a lot of details that were intricate. The worldbuilding continued to blow me away. The characters and their various relationships amazed me. While the plot was a little predictable, it kept me interested and engaged.

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midnightgremlin's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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bored_chloe's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I loved this book, which is weird to say when I thought the first was okay and the second and third got worse with each book. This one was a little boring to me for about 200 pages until we get to Roran being sent away for a siege and when, finally, Galbatorix appears on page. Personally, I think he should have appeared sooner because he was fascinating as a character and I'm not entirely sure of exactly what is 'evil' about him other than destroying the Dragon Riders and the whole stuff with Murtagh.

So now, why 3 stars?

To start with, I don't enjoy the writing and how things are described that much. I still don't like Eragon much as a character but he was tolerable and he was less annoying as I'd found him in previous books. And lastly, I hate that I spent three years reading the first 3 books in this series and hardly enjoying them only for this to be so good I could barely put it down for the last three days.

As for the ending, I didn't hate it, nor did I love it, but I couldn't see any other way of ending it because of how Galbatorix had been built up with his power and skill with magic.

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natashalg's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The way Eragon is able to challenge the king is kind of a cop out, but I still enjoyed it since it did dive into the trauma the dragons faced and allowed them to fight back as well. I also wish there was some way that Earagon could have stayed, he has his reasoning but I think I would have enjoyed this book more if it ended happier and more fulfilling. The ending also leaves a lot unanswered. What about Arya's developing feelings? Angela's past? The werecats future? Does Earagon reach a safe space to house the dragons? Does Saphria have children after mating? Does that mate bond apply to Earagon as well since it was mentioned in an earlier book that they're bond of love will include the other? Anyways, it was a good read, better than the previous books but i wish more happened rather than just explaining the world or emotions.

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keschneider's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Through my tears, I bring you, finally, my review of this never-ending book (she says affectionately). 4.5 stars

Loved:
-Eragon grows immensely throughout this book, both in his power and in his maturity. I loved how much he came to trust in himself and Saphira, in their abilities and in their wisdom. He truly seems to become a man by the end of the story, accepting of his flaws and knowing himself deeper than he ever has before (thus leading to the discovery of his true name).
-The way in which Eragon finally defeats Galbatorix is one that neither the characters nor the readers expect coming, and it was exciting and felt like... justice. When Galbatorix begs Eragon to end his torment and thus the all-consuming and devastating feelings of the generations of dragons and riders who were wronged by him, among others, and Eragon just goes... "No." Like so simple, so cold. It made me feel so proud of him! He did not resort to cruelty, or to blood, but rather to force Galbatorix to face the horror of his own decisions and his effect on others. Eragon forced EMPATHY onto Galbotorix, and it was the last thing literally anyone would have expected him to do, let alone for it to work.
-Roran is so badass in this, and every, book. While I can't imagine him as an "Earl" or whatever, I'm glad he survived and gets to move back to Palancar valley with his wife and baby. Good for him, he deserves every bit as much of praise and adoration for defeating Galbatorix's armies as Eragon deserves for defeating Galbatorix himself. G is just one man. Roran took on HUNDREDS and succeeded because of his strength and his cunning, not because of magic and a dragon. And his crazy. The man is a bit wack.
-Nasuada and Murtagh. Ugh I love them. If they don't get together in the next book, I won't be surprised, but I will be ENRAGED. Murtuada forever. They make so much more sense than Eragon and Arya ever did. Like yeah Nasuada is queen and Murtagh did a bunch of horrible things, but it's all water under the bridge you know. Let those two kids be happy. I demand it.
-When Nasuada is basically just f*cking around while Galbatorix is tormenting her and trying to unhinge her mind with visions? Iconic. I'm obsessed with her.
-I like that Eragon and Arya don't end up together. I honestly never saw them as compatible, for many of the reasons that Arya stated herself to him when he RELENTLESSLY pursued her. He is so young and she is old. Her life experience far outlives his own and they are too different. And he left Alagaesia anyways. It never would have worked. The only thing is that I am sad for Eragon being lonely, but he is young and stupid and obsessed, and I'm sure he will find someone else to love just as fiercely, someone who is more who he needs. If Murtagh wasn't in the picture, I would have loved to see him get together with Nasuada.
-When Eragon goes to see Brom's tomb, as his son. :') And it's the final time (we assume) that Eragon will be able to visit him. This is when the tears started to form.
-Part of me got annoyed with the super long, super drawn-out goodbye chapters, but most of me enjoyed them, because oftentimes that's what goodbyes are like. Procrastination abounds, everyone gets drunk, and no one actually wants to say goodbye or part ways. I only wish Eragon had found Murtagh or at least contacted him to let him know he was leaving. They are brothers after all.
-I also liked that the story didn't just immediately end or completely drop off after Galbatorix dies. Rarely do you kill a monarch and then everything is totally fine and all the world is at peace.
-Angela. Period.

Critiques:
-This is more a critique of the series overall, but I wish Galbotorix had been a more present and active threat/villain. Making Murtaugh and Thorn fill that role over and over again, while knowing they were not the real villains made much of their interactions with Eragon and Saphira, and the Varden, feel hollow. Inconsequential. And to have the final confrontation with Galbatorix and Shuikan end in only a few chapters... I don't know. He's built up as being such a powerful being, and Shruikan being utterly huge, crazy, and terrifying. And then it's just... over. It felt weird to me. Not the way in which G-man was defeated, but the swiftness of it. The only time Eragon faces Galbatorix directly and he defeats him first try? I would have liked to have seen at least one more battle, or a more drawn out/complex conflict. Then again, I suppose that is the point of Galbatorix's character, that he refused to come out and confront them directly so that he could just chill out while Murtagh and Thorn did all of the hard fighting.
-Orrin's character kind of did a 180 to me? Like all of a sudden he was super annoying, suspicious of everyone and demanding to be crowned King of, what, the whole world? Chill my dude. Play with your chemicals and whatever you did before you got so puffed up with self-importance and wine you became incredibly unpleasant to literally every character in this book.
-Birgit's "Blood Price" was so dramatic and stupid. She's annoying. We get it. The Ra'Zac ate your husband and you blame Roran for condemning him to that fate, even though that's ridiculously misplaced blame and a misguided desire for vengeance. Stupid. This is a Palancar Valley custom that I think should die. All it does is cause more harm.
-As awesome and badass as Angela is as a character, she also seems to be conveniently mysterious whenever the circumstances were dire. And never answers Eragon's questions, and by extension the readers' questions, concretely, if at all. The first few books of this were funny and hey I like a good sense of mystery, but after a while, I just wanted some damn answers from this lady.
-The length of this book is overwhelming. I feel like there were many things that could have been left out, or shortened, like some of the siege chapters. Even the chapters on Vroengard seemed a bit long to me, as fascinating as they were.
-Finally, the end. I understand it. I really do. It reflects much of what "the hero's journey" usually is, in a fantasy epic, as established by Tolkien. Frodo leaves middle earth, never to return due to wounds that cannot heal and trauma that will always be with him. Even though it's never explicitly said in this way, I feel Eragon leaves Alagaesia for many similar reasons. Yes he is leaving to safeguard the dragons and eldunari, but he also feels no purpose, no drive in Alagaesia anymore. As if he not only lost his Uncle and Father, but also his home, his country, and who he used to be. Many of the chapters following the final battle he expresses feeling empty, the same way Frodo did. My heart breaks for him, having to leave his remaining family, his friends, Arya, and Orik. I understand why the story ended the way it did, but I still wish it had ended differently. When Roran screams and cries as Eragon departs for the unknown I lost it. (on an unrelated note, I hate goodbyes) (his farewell to Angela sucked and I wish they had had one actual conversation ever)

This series is so nostalgic for me. I remember writing one that was basically the same but with a female dragon rider, because I was so inspired by it. I love the Eragon series, I always will. Here's hoping the TV series is something worth watching. I think it has the potential to be amazing.

I hope Eragon is happy, wherever he ended up.

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